Common barking geko

Introduction: Common barking geckos (Ptenopus garrulus) are small barking geckos that are known to become active for a short time with their calls heralding a desert sunset. They will also call on cooler mornings in a series of between 1 to 13 clicks, normally around 5. These geckos live in sand hummocks caught at the base of a bush in rocky areas and if disturbed will freeze relying on their natural camouflage for survival.

Distribution: Western Namibia from the Orange River to Damaraland, including Windhoek. A sub-species Ptenopus garralus garrulus can be found in the Kalahari Desert.

Diet: They emerge after dark in search of termites, small beetles and ants.

Colouring: The back varies the back is usually greyish-yellow with black crossbars and reddish-brown speckles. The belly is white and the throat has an orange or yellow heart shape on the throat.

Breeding: Females lay 1 or 2 white, hard-shelled eggs in a shallow hole.

Size: SVL 45 to 60mm. SVL 63mm. Males are slightly smaller than females.